Jan Palach + Q&A with director Robert Sedláek

Czech Embassy Cinema, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London
Jan Palach + Q&A with director Robert Sedláek image
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Event has ended
This event ended on Thursday 17th of January 2019
Admission
£7 + booking fee
Venue Information
Embassy Of The Czech Republic
Kensington Palace Gardens, W8 4QY
Nearest Tube/Rail Stations
Notting Hill Gate 0.13 miles

On 16 January 1969, the Prague philosophy student Jan Palach set himself on fire in Wenceslas Square to protest against the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia. He died three days later. He was 21 years old.

Was his act an epilogue or a highlight of the "Golden Sixties"? A film about innocence, naivety, loss of illusions and a fatal decision.

Using available sources director Robert Sedlá?ek reconstructs the final months of Jan Palach´s life describing his path from affectionate son, devoted friend, sensitive and thoughtful philosophy student to the Torch number 1. The resulting film is an impressive and atmospheric memento successfully portraying an uncompromising young man who made the ultimate sacrifice hoping to rouse the nation from lethargy.

Robert Sedláek, CZ / SR 2018, 120 mins
Cast: Viktor Zavadil, Zuzana Bydžovská, Denisa Barešová, Kristína Kanátová, Jan Vondrá?ek

Followed by Q&A with director Robert Sedláek
Robert Sedláek
(*1973, Zlín)
Robert Sedláek studied Documentary Production at The Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. In 2006 he received the Czech Lion Award for the best script for his feature debut Pravidla lži (Rules of Lies) set in a rehab centre. Czechoslovak history is reflected in his documentaries Tenkrát, František uba: Slušovický zázrak, V hlavní roli Gustáv Husák and others. His other films include Muži víji (Men in Rut), Nejvtší zech (The Greatest Czechs) a Rodina je základ státu (Long Live the Family).

He is also well known for his historical documentary series eské století (Czech Century) produced by Czech Television. The series explores the background to important historical events in Czechoslovakia from the beginning of WWI to the establishment of the independent state of the Czech Republic.

Tags: Film

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